“Remembering is for those who have forgotten”
- Plotinus
I haven’t written much in the last couple weeks. I seem to have encountered a certain change of momentum within my inquiry. I have always, since I was probably 17 or 18, been dedicated to the Perennial Philosophy. Whenever I appear to soar to the heights of the re-cognition of Awareness the view downward upon multiplicity – man, creation, etc – always comes together in a beautiful unity of beatific splendor.
Is not the “purpose” of remembering what alone is True the recognition of the oneness of reality? We may negate all that we are not “The world is not, Awareness alone Is” but when we have recognized Awareness as our true nature we then realize the second truth, “All is Awareness.” They were always One, but to encounter the direct experience of this reality we had to undo our belief in separation in order to see that we as individuals are not the totality but rather we as the ultimate Subject are the totality, the All.
My point is this, I fear that much of popular nonduality stops short of the direct experience of unified reality. We seem to be stuck on the negation of what we are not and can never rise to the reality of what we are. We are Awareness alone, but this inevitably contains what appears as Awareness. We often practically at least use the insights of Oneness to avoid the manifestation of what appears as Awareness.
This will come as a criticism on my part, which is a little different from my usual approach to writing and blogging. But the nondual message of our time appears to my eyes as ultimately a reductionist philosophy. Many responses could be fired back on this charge and I quite know what they are. However my criticism is not to undermine the pure teaching of the universal message of nonduality.
I’m not trying to convert anyone or charge that the message is false or I somehow know better than the great voices of this message. I am simply sharing the perspective on my part that after recognition one is placed in a position to clearly and soberly deal with the appearance of reality. This may mean simply living in a compassionate equanimity or it may mean a particular activity. Everyone is different hence the beautiful diversity of What appears as many!
For myself I turn from the contemplation of and abiding in Awareness back onto the pattern of multiplicity. In it I see what Rene Guenon, Frithjof Schuon and many others have called the sophia perennis. That is there lies behind the exoteric forms of traditional religion a primordial tradition, a pure metaphysics that in itself encompasses the nondual message. But as relativity, what appears, is a diverse manifestation specific traditions appear separate.
In the Perennial Philosophy I see a sober opportunity to direct the average person to a meeting with the Oneness behind reality, the Awareness that we all are. This entails meeting people where they are at. We find this ground in religion, that which points to a manifestation of Awareness. But if approached in the right way this form leads to the esoteric, the formless, it reveals Awareness.
Yes, recognition is entirely possible without religion, belief, form, etc. But what do we do after recognition? For this I believe a recovery of traditional religion serves a specific purpose. So my change in momentum means I’m turning from sharing the message of nonduality to sharing a unity of the form it expresses itself as.
Surely I will lose many supporters within my circle and that perfectly fine. I have the utmost compassion for their view and criticism. Hopefully they will honor mine as well. At any rate I won’t be posting much over the summer. I plan on taking some time to explore the Perennial Philosophy in greater detail, do some writing, and most of all focus on the direct experience of Awareness. But I will do this all from the perspective of the Christian message.
There will either be a reformatting of this blog in the future or an entirely new blog created. I’ll post details later. But I thank everyone who has been on this journey to nowhere over the last couple of years. Your readership has been the fuel that kept this fire burning. But it’s time to do something new in my life and different with regard to the method of sharing my experience of Awareness.
Thanks to all,
Love,
Hanuman Dass
Honoring your decision~ Makes perfect sense and I am grateful for your *presence* here and the palatable effect that your pointing has had in Satprem’s whirled~ Love to you, Dear Brother~
Thanks a lot Sat!
To be clear I don’t intend to simply abandon this blog. I will still post from time to time over the summer before I do something new.
I’m forever in debt to folks like you who have encouraged me to stay true to the pureness of Awareness and the need or non-need to recognize it as our true nature.
The journey into Perennialism, from my earliest days till now, demands that I turn full circle to embrace “what Is” and so bring about (personall at least) the wonderous majesty of the awe that is appearance. Life is about living, living returns to itself as love eventually always seeks itself.
Love,
HD
I am about to embark upon a new blog myself, although it will run in conjunction with ‘Wondrous Dharma’. I see the WD blog as an opportunity to show how the message of unity has been expressed by different traditions and teachers. It seems that many people can relate to it in that fashion.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with, HD, and will be sure to follow.
Absolutely Arjuna. Part of my motivation is that I find the nondual message to be lacking with respect to reaching people who would never ‘seek’ the truth of its message. Traditional religion however is much more accesible being formal or exoteric. The exoteric is always formed upon the esoteric or metaphysical which is none other than this message of nondual Awareness I speak of here .
Looking forward to seeing your new offering as well Arjuna!
HD
Hi HD,
I like what you’re saying here. I agree that the ‘pure’ non-dual message is true and valid, but doesn’t necessarily encourage people to address all aspects of living a fully human life. I’ve been posting about this myself over the last week (starting with ‘A New Spirituality’ on June 13), and I got a small amount of strong (but respectful) kick-back from a pure non-dual perspective, but on the whole the response has been very positive. I look forward to your new direction. Keep on blogging!
Right Paul.
We shouldn’t forget the distinction here between the pure Absolute perspective that is the mode by which it’s expressed today (and always has of course) and something slightly different but with the same end in view.
It’s simply my view and that of a great many both religious, spiritual, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Advaitic, and even within our community that there is an upaya or skillful means for approaching the nondual.
Is this all just a story? Sure it is! But some folks need the story because that’s where they’re at. Some of us have glimpsed the other shore where it’s all a story on this level. But we come back and use this upayic story to mold the apparent reality. The perennial Christian message sets a pattern for the relative that points to Awareness and molds what appears in its “shape”.
This isn’t exclusive by any means. Christianity isn’t holding a monopoly over reality but it is a pure traditional pattern that where conceived rightly tears away the veil of ego and separation and reveals the Absolute.
Love,
HD
Hi HD,
I would like to nominate you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. If you would like to receive the award, please follow the link for instructions. If you do not like to receive awards, please accept my appreciation for your blog.
http://restinginawareness.com/2012/06/17/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
~ Paul
From an existential perspective, more important that the outlying effects of your actions is the simple fact that you follow your convictions. What good is it to live a life that is not your own? In reading this and other posts here, I admire your voice and your thoughts. But your opinions do not rely on mine nor anyone else’s critiques. My advice: your decisions (with this blog or anything else in life) will not be regrettable if you follow your passions. Because the greatest thing you can do for yourself (and, consequently, the world) is to follow your passions.
It has been a pleasure reading your insights.
Firstly, thank you for reading the blog I’m happy you enjoyed my writing! Secondly, I appreciate yur encouraging words my friend. You couldn’t have been more to the point.
Thanks once more,
HD
Hi HD,
Any understanding of non-dualty is a misunderstanding. This can be seen as reductionist, or simply clear pointing – and however it appears, as obstacle or opportunity, is an aspect/expression – a facet of “multiplicity”.
To ” … turn from the contemplation of and abiding in Awareness back onto the pattern of multiplicity.” requires no turn at all. The finely spun ‘Golden Thread’ of the Perenial Philosophy will forever remain unspun.
Enough remnants of the weavings of the Ancient Mystery Schools – the veil behind the veil – hace survived to keep you busy for a while. Enjoy. I am reading this sort of thing again myself of late.
“That which cuts itself off from life, is the dead branch which cast itself back into the fire” – Manly P. Hall
K
K,
Long time no chat my friend! I absolutely agree with what you’ve said. I must say though I’m quite surprised that you would be looking into the perennial philosophy, in whatever capacity you see it of course.
I’ve always valued your support as well as your unrelenting criticism. Happy to see we are still close, relatively speaking!
HD
I feel what you mean, HD. And I agree with your new direction. Philosophy is just words unless it leads one to the direct experience of Oneness, and helps to make it a living reality.
There is an endless array of useful practices and beautiful Truths sprinkled throughout every religion and wisdom tradition on Earth. One can use the language of any tradition to express the ultimate underlying Truth, and – more importantly – to help anyone to have the ultimate mystical experience. And that is what its all about!
Let others say what they will… I for one like your new direction, and I look forward to reading more of your wisdom and insight
~ Ben
HD, blessings to you and all your endeavors. Our brief exchange has been wonderfully fruitful for me, so much thanks and respect to you. I look forward to reading more about the new direction you are taking.
The “realm” of multiplicity is a cornucopia of delights and terrors. I value being fully present for ‘the now’ in all its unfathomable unfoldings.
Dive in, friend. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
DAVE
“But the nondual message of our time appears to my eyes as ultimately a reductionist philosophy.”
I think reductionism has its value because if we ‘neti-neti’ everything, what remains is this no-thing which, at the same time, is every-thing, this ‘One’ without a second. If all is this ‘One’ then we are IT. All this is IT. Hence, by way of reductionism we can discover who we (and everything else) are (is).